Idea Lab launched through Innovation Center on medical campus

An Idea Lab, the first of its kind in Western New York, is now part of the business menu at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

Known as the i4 Studio, the lab is intended to function as a hub for creative thinking and problem solving to help entrepreneurs and start-up companies address challenges and develop new concepts in business planning.

Located at the Innovation Center on the campus, the idea lab was developed in conjunction with the International Center for Studies in Creativity within SUNY Buffalo State.

The i4 Studio will help apply creative thinking tools and processes to generate breakthroughs in idea generation, problem solving, strategic planning and business modeling. Workshops and programming will be offered regularly.

The lab's formal launch is set for 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 28 with a party in the new studio space on the second floor of the Innovation Center at 640 Ellicott St. Registration for the free event can be found at the events page at www.i4studiobuffalo.com.

Offerings will include private consultation to define and address challenges, comprehensive programs to learn the creative problem-solving process for improving personal or professional performance and intensive workshops employing “trained brains” – industry experts and those trained to help facilitate problem resolution. Programs also will be available for entire teams focused on strategic planning and team building.

Fees for the lab's services, which are geared toward entities on the medical campus but will be open to other businesses, will start at $49.

The concept for i4 Studios came about through collaboration between Vic Nole, director of business development for the campus, and Roger Firestien, a senior faculty member of the International Center for Studies in Creativity at SUNY Buffalo State. The medical campus team will provide administrative oversight and business development resources. Nole and Firestien will serve as co-directors of i4 Studio.